Methods and compositions for enhancing cytochrome P450 in plants

Abstract

The present invention provides methods for treating plants which comprise application of an oxidant that induces NADPH:cytochrome P450 reductase and application of a reductant that induces cytochrome P450 monooxygenase. The present invention also provides methods for increasing cytochrome P450 in plants and for enhancing the growth of plants. The present invention also provides compositions and systems useful in the methods of the present invention.

That which is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for enhancing growth of a plant, said method comprising: (a) applying to said plant a first compound selected from the group consisting of (i) NADPH:cytochrome P450 reductase and (ii) oxidants that induce NADPH:cytochrome P450 reductase in plants; and   (b) applying to said plant a second compound selected from the group consisting of (i) cytochrome P450 monooxygenase and (ii) reductants that induce cytochrome P450 monooxygenase.   
     
     
       2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said first compound is an oxidant that induces NADPH:cytochrome P450 reductase selected from the group consisting of glycolate, flavin mononucleotide, riboflavin, p-nitrobenzoic acid, p-nitrophenolate, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said second compound is a reductant that induces cytochrome P450 monooxygenase selected from the group consisting of cytochromes, amines, cinnamates, retinoids, fatty acids, pteridines, terpenoids, alcohols, ketones, pyridines, indoles, brassinolides, barbiturates, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       4. The method according to claim 3, wherein said reductant is selected from the group consisting of hemoglobin, tyrosine, tyrosine ester, tyrosine methylester, tyrosine methylester hydrochloride, tyramine, alanyltyrosine, aminopyrine, phosphonomethyl glycine, salicylates, trans-retinoic acid, carbamate, p-aminobenzoic acid, PEG-25 p-aminobenzoic acid, indole-3-glycerol phosphate, methanol, acetone, phenobarbital, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said second compound is selected from the group consisting of tyrosine methylester, tyrosine methylester hydrochloride, aminopyrine, p-aminobenzoic acid, and PEG-25 p-aminobenzoic acid. 
     
     
       6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first compound is p-nitrobenzoic acid and the second compound is tyrosine methylester hydrochloride. 
     
     
       7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first compound is p-nitrobenzoic acid and the second compound is PEG-25 p-aminobenzoic acid. 
     
     
       8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first compound is glycolate and the second compound is tyrosine methylester hydrochloride. 
     
     
       9. A method for enhancing growth of a plant, said method comprising applying to said plant NADPH:cytochrome P450 reductase and cytochrome P450 monooxygenase, wherein said method enhances growth of said plant. 
     
     
       10. A method for enhancing growth of a plant, said method comprising: (a) applying to said plant an oxidant that induces NADPH:cytochrome P450 reductase in plants, wherein said oxidant is selected from the group consisting of flavins; salts of flavins; hydrates of flavins; surfactant-linked derivatives of flavins; and combinations thereof; and   (b) applying to said plant a reductant that induces cytochrome P450 monooxygenase.   
     
     
       11. The method according to claim 10, wherein said oxidant has an E 0  value of between about -400 mV and about -165 mV. 
     
     
       12. The method according to claim 10, wherein said reductant has an E 0  value of between about 1 and about 2000 mV. 
     
     
       13. The method according to claim 10, wherein said oxidant is selected from the group consisting of flavin mononucleotide, flavin adenine dinucleotide, riboflavin, deazaflavin, salts thereof, hydrates thereof, surfactant-linked derivatives thereof, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       14. The method according to claim 10, wherein said oxidant is flavin mononucleotide. 
     
     
       15. The method according to claim 10, wherein said reductant is selected from the group consisting of cytochromes, amines, cinnamates, retinoids, fatty acids, pteridines, terpenoids, alcohols, ketones, pyridines, indoles, brassinolides, barbiturates, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       16. The method according to claim 10, wherein said reductant is selected from the group consisting of hemoglobin, tyrosine, tyrosine ester, tyrosine methylester, tyrosine methylester hydrochloride, tyramine, alanyltyrosine, aminopyrine, phosphonomethyl glycine, salicylates, trans-retinoic acid, carbamate, p-aminobenzoic acid, PEG-25 p-aminobenzoic acid, indole-3-glycerol phosphate, methanol, acetone, phenobarbital, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       17. The method according to claim 10, wherein said reductant is selected from the group consisting of p-aminobenzoic acid, PEG-25 p-aminobenzoic acid, aminopyrine, tyrosine methylester, and tyrosine methylester hydrochloride. 
     
     
       18. The method according to claim 10, wherein said oxidant is flavin mononucleotide and said reductant is tyrosine methylester hydrochloride. 
     
     
       19. The method according to claim 10, wherein said oxidant is flavin mononucleotide and said reductant is p-aminobenzoic acid. 
     
     
       20. The method according to claim 10, wherein said oxidant is flavin mononucleotide and said reductant is PEG-25 p-aminobenzoic acid. 
     
     
       21. The method according to claim 10, wherein said oxidant and said reductant are applied in an amount effective to increase the amount of cytochrome P450 in tyrosine methylester hydrochloride, tyramine, alanyltyrosine, aminopyrine, phosphonomethyl glycine, salicylates, trans-retinoic acid, carbamate, p-aminobenzoic acid, PEG-25 p-aminobenzoic acid, indole-3-glycerol phosphate, methanol, acetone, phenobarbital, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       22. The method according to claim 10, wherein said oxidant and said reductant are applied to said plant at a location selected from the group consisting of leaves, shoots, roots, seed and stem. 
     
     
       23. The method according to claim 10, wherein said oxidant and said reductant are applied to one or more leaves of said plant. 
     
     
       24. The method according to claim 10, wherein said oxidant and said reductant are applied to plant tissue selected from the group consisting of cell suspensions, callus tissue cultures, and micropropagation cultures. 
     
     
       25. The method according to claim 10, wherein said method further comprises the step (c) of applying a fertilizer to said plant. 
     
     
       26. The method according to claim 25, wherein said fertilizer is selected from the group consisting of (i) C 1  -C 7  alkyl glucosides, and (ii) nitrogenous fertilizers containing not more than 1.5% ammoniacal nitrogen. 
     
     
       27. A method for enhancing growth of a plant, said method comprising applying to the foliage of said plant, a composition comprising (i) a growth enhancing effective amount of a plant growth regulator selected from the group consisting of tyrosine, tyrosine ester, cytochrome P450 tyrosine, tyrosine methylester, and tyrosine methylester hydrochloride and (ii) an agronomically suitable surfactant. 
     
     
       28. A method for enhancing growth of a plant, said method comprising applying to the foliage of said plant, a composition comprising (i) a growth enhancing effective amount of a flavin selected from the group consisting of flavin mononucleotide, flavin adenine dinucleotide, riboflavin, deazaflavin, salts thereof, hydrates thereof, surfactant-linked derivatives thereof, and combinations thereof, and (ii) an agronomically suitable surfactant. 
     
     
       29. The method according to claim 28, wherein said composition further comprises glycolate. 
     
     
       30. A plant growth enhancing system comprising: (a) an aqueous solution containing an amount of an oxidant which induces NADPH:cytochrome P450 reductase in said plant, wherein said oxidant is selected from the group consisting of flavins; salts of flavins; hydrates of flavins; surfactant-linked derivatives of flavins; and combinations thereof; and   (b) an aqueous solution containing an amount of a reductant which induces cytochrome P450 monooxygenase in said plant.   
     
     
       31. The system according to claim 30, wherein said oxidant is selected from the group consisting of flavin mononucleotide, flavin adenine dinucleotide, riboflavin, deazaflavin, salts thereof, hydrates thereof, surfactant-linked derivatives thereof, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       32. The system according to claim 30, wherein said reductant is selected from the group consisting of cytochromes, amines, cinnamates, retinoids, fatty acids, pteridines, terpenoids, alcohols, ketones, pyridines, indoles, brassinolides, barbiturates, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       33. The system according to claim 30, wherein said reductant is selected from the group consisting of hemoglobin, tyrosine, tyrosine ester, tyrosine methylester, tyrosine methylester hydrochloride, tyramine, alanyltyrosine, aminopyrine, phosphonomethyl glycine, salicylates, trans-retinoic acid, carbamate, p-aminobenzoic acid, PEG-25 p-aminobenzoic acid, indole-3-glycerol phosphate, methanol, acetone, phenobarbital, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       34. The system according to claim 30, wherein said oxidant is flavin mononucleotide and said reductant is tyrosine methylester hydrochloride. 
     
     
       35. The system according to claim 30, wherein said oxidant is flavin mononucleotide and said reductant is p-aminobenzoic acid. 
     
     
       36. The system according to claim 30, wherein said oxidant is flavin mononucleotide and said reductant is PEG-25 p-aminobenzoic acid. 
     
     
       37. A composition for enhancing growth of a plant, said composition comprising: (a) a first compound selected from the group consisting of (i) NADPH:cytochrome P450 reductase and (ii) oxidants that induce NADPH:cytochrome P450 reductase in plants; and   (b) a second compound selected from the group consisting of tyrosine, tyrosine ester, and salts thereof.   
     
     
       38. The composition according to claim 37, wherein said second compound is selected from the group consisting of tyrosine methylester and tyrosine methylester hydrochloride.